Toxic elements (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, selenium, thallium) are a group of contaminants that are known to elicit developmental, reproductive, general health, and immune system effects in reptiles, even at low concentrations. Reptiles, including marine turtles, are susceptible to accumulation of toxic elements due to their long life span, low metabolic rate, and highly efficient conversion of prey into biomass. The objectives of this study were to (1) document concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, selenium, and thallium in whole blood and keratin from nesting loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from Casey Key, Florida and document correlations thereof and (2) correlate whole blood toxic element concentrations to various hematological and plasma biochemistry analytes. Baselines for various hematological and plasma analytes and toxic elements in whole blood and keratin (i.e., scute) in nesting loggerheads are documented. Various correlations between the toxic elements and hematological and plasma biochemistry analytes were identified; however, the most intriguing were negative correlations between arsenic, cadmium, lead, and selenium with and α- and γ-globulins. Although various extrinsic and intrinsic variables such as dietary and feeding changes in nesting loggerheads need to be considered, this finding may suggest a link to altered humoral immunity. This study documents a suite of health variables of nesting loggerheads in correlation to contaminants and identifies the potential of toxic elements to impact the overall health of nesting turtles, thus presenting important implications for the conservation and management of this species.

有毒元素（砷，镉，铅，汞，硒，th）是一组污染物，即使在低浓度下，也能引起爬行动物的发育，生殖，一般健康和免疫系统影响。爬行动物（包括海龟）由于寿命长，新陈代谢率低以及猎物高效地转化为生物质而易于积累有毒元素。这项研究的目的是（1）记录筑巢海龟（Caretta caretta）的全血和角蛋白中砷，镉，铅，汞，硒和th的浓度）（来自佛罗里达州Casey Key）及其相关文件，以及（2）将全血有毒元素浓度与各种血液学和血浆生物化学分析物相关联。全血和角蛋白中各种血液和血浆分析物以及有毒元素的基线（即，scute）记录在记录头中。确定了毒性元素与血液学和血浆生化分析物之间的各种相关性；然而，最吸引人的是砷，镉，铅和硒与α-和γ-球蛋白之间的负相关。尽管需要考虑各种外在和内在变量，例如嵌套的饮食和进食变化，但这一发现可能暗示了体液免疫力的改变。这项研究记录了一系列与污染物相关的筑巢的健康变量，并确定了有毒元素对筑巢海龟整体健康的潜在影响，从而为该物种的保护和管理提出了重要的启示。